Screw operated jar cap wrench



Feb. 19, 1952 J, W, FAY

SCREW OPERATED JAR CAP WRENCH Filed Sept. 23, 1946 JnUefzZ-'v 13 a/OSQp/z ZU. 4 ily lbumgim, Emu

Patented Feb. 19, 1952 SCREW OPERATED JAR CAP WRENCH Joseph W. Fay, Villa Park, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Irwin J. Mendels, Evanston, Ill.

Application September 23, 1946, Serial No. 698,641

6 Claims.

This invention relates, in general, to screw operated jar cap wrenches, and has particular relation to an improved device for loosening and 1i'ikghtening screw caps, screw covers and the While I shall describe hereinafter in connection with the drawing the use of the device in connection with a relatively large screw cap for a relatively large jar, it is to be understood that the device of the present invention may be used on screw caps of widely different sizes up to larger sizes and down to the screw caps used on relatively small drug bottles.

In prior devices of the sort with which the present invention is concerned, the inner jaw has .been loose or free of the handle of the device and in position adjacent the inner end of the handle for rectilinear movement only into gripping engagement with the cap by rotation of the handle. Where gripping engagement of the inner jaw with the cap is secured solely by rectilinear movement, the desired fast and rm hold on the cap is not at all times assured, particularly where the outer periphery of the screw-threaded flange of the cap is of a form not to be securely gripped and rmly held by such action.

One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide an improved cap loosening and tightening device with which a better and more secure and firm gripping engagement is assured with the cap, regardless of the form of the outer periphery of the screw-threaded flange of the cap.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide in a cap loosening or tightening device of the class described an inner J'aw in the form of a round, sharp spinner, which, in application of the device, is adapted to spin a groove into the outer periphery of the screwthreaded ange of the cap to assure rm and secure gripping engagement with the cap for loosening or tightening the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cap loosening or tightening device of the character described having the novelty and advantages set forth and characterized by its simplicityin construction, its economy in manufacture, and its effectiveness in use for accomplishing the desired results.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a jar with the cap loosening or tightening device of the present invention applied to the cap or cover thereof, the cover being shown partially broken away and in section; v

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view of the jar 2f with the cap loosening or tightening device engaged with the cap or cover of the jar;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken longitudinally through the cap loosening and tightening device substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, in the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration, the device comprises a stem I threaded at 2 and having a cap gripping jaw 3 fixed at 4 on the outer end of the stem.

While the details of the jaw 3 and its attachment at 4 to the stem I may vary, I have shown this jaw of arcuate form to follow in general the circular outer periphery of the screwthreaded flange 5 of the screw cap 6 when the device is applied to the cap. The jaw 3 has circumferentially spaced teeth 1, the inner ends of which are preferably sharp to indent the outer periphery of the cap as shown at 8 when the device is applied to the cap in order Vto assure rm gripping engagement with the cap. For securing the jaw 3 on the outer end of the stem, the outer end of the stem may be reduced at 9 and passed through an opening in the jaw 3 and riveted over at I0, but this, of course, may vary.

A spinner II is screwed on the stem I at I2, and has a round sharp edge I3 adapted to spin a groove into the outer periphery of the flange 5 of the cap 6 by screwing the spinner I I along the stem I. This assures a more secure and rm gripping engagement with the cap 6 regardless of the formand size of the outer periphery of the screw-threaded fiange of the cap.

The handle I4 is preferably formed of wood, although it may be formed of plastic or any other suitable material. It has an axial opening I5 through which the stem `I is adapted to extend for rotation ofthe handle about the stem. For the purpose of flxedly securing the handle I4 to the spinner II so that the spinner will be l rotated and screwed along the stem I by rotation of the handle, the spinner I I may, for example, be provided with an integral tubular extension I6 fitting into an enlarged axial opening I'I at the inner end of the handle I4. The outer periphery of the tubular extension I6 has longitudinal or other serrations I8 engaging into the inner periphery of the opening I1 to secure the spinner II to the handle I4 for rotation therewith. The inner end of the handle I4 is shown xedly abutting the spinner II at I9.

The threads 2 on the stem I terminate at 23 at a distance from the end of the stem to limit the screwing movement of the handle and spinner from the end of the stem.

The spinner I I is shown of one piece or unitary form, but itis to be understood that it may be made out of two or more pieces riveted or otherwise secured together. The particular manner of rigidly securing the handle I4 to the spinner II may also be varied.

In use, the device is applied to the desired screw cap by grasping the handle I4 and turning it to screw the spinner II and handle I4 as a unit outwardly along the stem I to adjust the space between the jaw 3 and the spinner II for the reception of the screw-threaded flange 5 of the cap diametrieally therebetween. The device is then placed on the oap'S as shown in Figures l and 2, with the stem 'I against and extending diametrically across the top of the cap and with the jaw 3 and spinner II positioned to grip the flange of the cap between them.

The handle I4 is then turned inthe opposite direction to screw the spinner II toward the side of the cap to grip the cap between the spinner and the jaw 3. As previously stated, as the spinner II is engaged with the cap, its screwing action `along the stem I spins with great force a groove into the outer periphery of the iiange 5. This group is shown partially in section at 20 in Figure 6. At the same time, the jaw 3 is brought into gripping engagement with the diametrically opposite side of the cap 6, the teeth 1 being adapted to indent the outer periphery of the flange 6 as shown at 18. In this way, lirm and secure gripping engagement with the cap is secured regardless of the form or size of the cap.

With the device thus applied 'to the cap, the jar, indicated fragmentarily at 22, or the bottle or the like is firmly gripped in vone hand and, by the use of the handle I4, leverage is obtained Ito enable loosening or removal of the cap 6 even though it is very tight or frozen into place. The device may also be used in a similar manner to tighten the cap. One lform of thread in the threaded iiange 5 of the cap is shown in section at`2 I in Figure 6.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that such drawing and the accompanying specification are not to be construed as a denition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In a loosening and tightening vdevice for screw caps, in combination, a threaded stem, a cap gripping jaw fixed on the outer end of said stem, a round spinner having a sharp peripheral knife edge and internal threads screwed on said stem,a handle iixedly secured to said spinner and rotatable about the axis of said stem to screw the spinner along the stem to adjust the space between said jaw and said spinner for the reception of a cap therebetween, said spinner in the application of the device to a cap being adapted to be screwed along the stem by rotation of said handle to spin a groove into the outer periphery of the screw-threaded flange of the cap to assure firm gripping engagement with the cap.

2. In a loosening and tightening device for screw caps, in combination, a threaded stem, a

cap gripping jaw fixed on the outer end of said stem, a handle, and a round spinner having a sharp peripheral knife edge iixedly secured to the inner end of the handle, said spinner having internal threads engaging the threads on the stern whereby said handle and spinner are screwed as a unit on said stem and adapted by screwing along the stem to adjust the space between said jaw and said spinner for the reception of a cap therebetween, said spinner in the application of the device to a cap being adapted to be screwed along the stem by rotation of the handle to spin a groove into the outer periphery of the screwthreaded iiange of the cap to assure rm gripping engagement with the cap.

3. In a loosening and tightening device for screw caps, in combination, a threaded stem, a cap gripping jaw fixed on the outer end of said stem, a handle, and a round spinner having a sharp peripheral knife edge xedly secured to the inner end of the handle, said spinner having internal threads engaging the threads on the stem whereby said handle and spinner are screwed as a unit on said stem and adapted by screwing along the stem to adjust the space between said `jaw and said spinner` for the reception of a cap therebetween, said spinner inthe application of the device to a cap being adapted to be screwed along the stem by rotation of the handle to spin a groove into the -outer 'periphery of the iiange of the cap to assure iirm gripping engagement with the cap, the threads on said stem terminating at a distance from the outerend of the stem to 'limit the screwing movement of the handle from the end of the stern.

4. In a loosening and tightening device for screw caps, in combination, a threaded stem, a spinner having internal threads screwed on said stem and having a round sharp peripheral knife edge positioned for presentation to the cap when the device is applied to the cap and adapted to spin a groove into the outer periphery of the screw-threaded flange of a screw cap by screwing said spinner along said stem, and a cooperating jaw fixed on the outer end of the threaded stem for engaging the iiange of the cap in substantiallydiametrically opposite position.

5. A loosening and tightening device for screw caps according to claim 1, wherein the jaw on the outer end of the threaded stem is of arcuate form and has circumferentially vspaced sharp teeth adapted to indent the outer periphery of the screw-threaded flange of the cap to assure firm gripping engagement with the cap.

6. A loosening and tightening'device for screw caps according to claim 2, wherein the round sharp spinner has a tubular extension fitting into an opening in the adjacent end of the handle and provided with serrations on its outer periphery engaging in the inner periphery of said opening to secure the spinner to the handle for rotation therewith.

JOSEPH W. FAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 143,075 Ingwer Dec. 4, 1945 984,975 Shallcross Feb. 21, 1911 2,056,848' -Geisingerv Oct. 6, 1936 

